To Protect and to Cherish (12 page)

             
“There will be plenty of food there. Do not worry on that account.”

             
Jillian dressed for her ride and went to the stables to find Peter. He was waiting with Gacela and a mount for him.

             
He had a side saddle on Gacela.

             
“Peter,” Jillian disliked conflict, but she needed to establish a proper relationship with him now, “I prefer a standard saddle.”

             
“His grace specifically requested this saddle, milady.”

             
Jillian was not sure what to do. Slade had said he believed it unsafe for women to ride side saddle. It would be even more so for her she had never learned. Why, then, would he desire her to ride to him in such a manner?

             
It occurred to her that her husband did not wish her to be seen riding up to his men in such a hoydenish manner. The realization hurt, but she could do nothing about it at the moment.

             
“Peter,” she struggled to keep the tremor from her voice, “please remove Gacela’s saddle. I will be back in a few moments.”

             
She went inside to write a note to her husband.

             
Slade,

I find I am unable to meet you today as planned. Please forgive me the change in plans. I look forward to seeing you this evening.

              Jillian

             
She sealed it and returned to the stable, “Peter,” she extended the letter to him, “I would appreciate it if you would deliver this to his grace as soon as possible.”

             
Peter looked confused but didn’t comment, “Yes, ma’am.”

             
Having looked forward to the outing all day, Jillian felt despondent over the loss.

             
She tried to engage her mind in sewing, reading, and walking through the great house in an attempt to learn every corner. However, she had a great deal of difficulty raising her spirits.

             
Slade did not make it home in time for dinner. Jillian wondered if he was upset with her. She dressed for bed and waited in her own room, leaving her door a bit ajar.

             
He did not keep her waiting.

             
As soon as she heard him in the sitting room, she went to find him.

             
“Jillian,” he glanced over her attire.

             
She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach at his expression of appreciation.

             
“Did you get my message?”

             
“I did,” he swallowed hard.

             
She wasn’t sure what to say now. She had expected him to ask what had kept her.

             
“I can’t ride side saddle,” she planted her fists on her hips.

             
He wasn’t looking her in the eye. If Jillian hadn’t been slightly annoyed that Slade didn’t respond, she would have found his blatant perusal of her form amusing.

             
“Slade,” she spoke a little louder, “did you forget?”

             
He snapped to attention, “Forget what?”

             
She narrowed her eyes, “That I can’t ride side saddle.”

             
He frowned, “I know you can’t.”

             
“So, why did you ask Peter to put the side saddle on Gacela?”

             
His frown deepened, “I didn’t. I told him to put the same one as before.”

             
Jillian recognized the truth when she saw it, but she wondered what had gone wrong.

             
“Is that why you didn’t come today?”

             
“Yes,” she sat down, a little ashamed at her reaction moments earlier.

             
He sat next to her on the sofa, “Why didn’t you just ask him to change it?”

             
“I was afraid you would be embarrassed if I rode that way to you.”

             
Slade leaned slightly toward her, but then pulled back, “I could never be embarrassed by you, Jillian.”

             
She sighed, “I have been cranky all day because I missed that.”

             
He took her hand in his.

             
She leaned her head against his shoulder, and he stiffened.

             
She lifted her head, “Is something amiss?” she decided to come right out and ask instead of assuming he didn’t want her touching him.

             
“I think I must smell quite bad. It was a warm day today.”

             
She settled her head back against him, “You do not smell bad at all.”

             
He bent to kiss her temple.

             
“I got a package from your sister today.”

             
“Oh?”

             
“It was a new riding habit. She also sent a letter saying she would reconsider riding if Anthony would be agreeable to her riding astride.”

             
Slade chuckled, “And is he?”

             
“She didn’t say.”

             
“It would be nice for you to have a riding companion.”

             
She glanced up at him, “You would not mind?”

             
“No – as long as you stay in the field nearest the house.”

             
“The one with the apple trees?”

             
“Yes. You could ride there yourself if you tell someone where you are going.”

             
Jillian knew it was not a long distance, but the idea of being allowed out riding any time she desired gave her a sense of freedom.

             
“Thank you, Slade. I think I would enjoy that,” she stretched up and kissed his cheek.

             
She was not too surprised when he brought his hand to her chin and turned her face, so he could meet her lips with his own. She responded willingly and was disappointed when he released her.

             
His chest was rising and falling more quickly than usual, “Would you,” his voice sounded lower than usual, so he cleared it and began again, “would you like to try again tomorrow? We will be in the next field over.”

             
She nodded.

             
Jillian went to the stables immediately following breakfast the following morning. She had not told Slade what she was about because she was determined to sort it out herself first.

             
“Peter,” she gained his attention and then drew him away from the stable hand.

             
“You need something, milady?”

             
“I am going to need Gacela saddled later this morning.”

             
“His grace mentioned as much,” he looked bored.

             
Jillian commanded her foot to cease its irritated tapping, “And which saddle do you plan to put on the animal today?”

             
He looked confused.

             
“You will put on the standard saddle, Peter. You will not disregard his grace’s wishes again.”

             
“Milady,” he paled, “I did not intend to disobey the master.”

             
“Frankly, Peter, I do not care what your reasons are for your error yesterday,” she spoke softly and conversationally, so the attention of the other stable workers would not be drawn to them, “I simply want to know that you are going to do as you are told.”

             
He hung his head, “Yes, milady.”

             
Jillian turned away and was about to walk toward the house, but she saw a shadowy figure behind a tree.

             
She changed her course and went to stand on the other side of the large oak, “I imagine you have some good reason for being here.”

             
The figure was silent.

             
She sighed and walked around to face the man, “I used to read romance novels about spies and intrigues.”

             
He raised an eyebrow.

             
“I don’t think you would be a good spy.”

             
Slade chuckled.

             
“What are you doing?”

             
“Wondering what Peter did to aggravate you.”

             
“Ah, yes,” she pressed her lips together. “I think that information should be gleaned from him by you.”

             
“You seem to think he disobeyed me. That seems like something I should know about.”

             
She nodded, “You should, but I am no snitch.”

             
He folded his arms across his chest, “Does this have anything to with his choice of saddle?”

             
She responded with a question of her own, “Did you come back to the house for something? I thought you had left.”

             
“You are a clever woman, Jillian, but I am not fooled.”

             
She smirked at him, “Are you avoiding telling me what made you come back?

             
“I forgot something.”

             
“What was that?”

             
He glanced around before darting in toward her and dropping a kiss on her lips, “I’ll see you later.”

             
She watched him walk confidently toward his mount, swing up and ride off toward the field.

             
Peter was waiting – both horses waiting under standard saddles.

             
She did not need his assistance to mount, but she had to follow him to where her husband was waiting.

             
“This is not the way I took with his grace,” Jillian pointed out.

             
“It is shorter, milady,” he kept going.

             
Jillian pulled her horse to a stop, “Peter,” she spoke firmly, “we will go to the field by way of the creek.”

             
He turned around and shot her a look of long-suffering.

             
She did not back down, “I am certain you know these fields better than I do, but we will travel by a route that is familiar to me or we will not go at all.”

             
Peter’s expression told her he didn’t care if she went to see her husband or not.

             
She rubbed her horse’s neck to still the beast’s impatient movements, “Would you like to carry my explanation of this situation to the duke?”

             
Peter’s eyes widened.

             
“I may just be a woman to you, Peter,” she spoke slowly and deliberately, “but, I assure you, his grace takes my comfort and safety very seriously. So, whatever your beliefs are regarding a woman’s place or how she should ride, I suggest you put them aside to do as you are told.”

             
Peter cleared his throat and turned his horse down another path. Jillian was relieved to find it was one she and Slade had previously been on.

             
Her husband spotted her from a distance. He had been standing by a team of horses that were harnessed to a large cart. He spoke briefly to the man next to him and jogged up to Jillian.

             
“Did you have a nice ride?” he stood before her with no jacket and – she almost gasped at the sight – no waistcoat.

             
“It was lovely,” she did not want to look at Peter, but she could not look at her husband.

             
He reached up to help her down. She allowed it, but stepped back immediately.

             
“Would you like something to eat?” he extended his arm for her.

             
She took it, but carried herself as far from him as possible.

             
“While we are out here for planting and harvesting,” he explained as they walked toward the fire, “the wives bring the food out here.”

             
Jillian smiled up at him, “That must be very efficient.”